US chants ‘Namo, Namo…’ ahead of Kerry’s arrival

Washington looks forward to working together on key issues and be a catalyst in India’s ‘economic revitalisation’, says the Secretery of State

Washington : The US will seek to establish top level contact with the new Indian government as US Secretary of State John Kerry arrives in India Wednesday on a visit that is expected to lay the groundwork for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s much-awaited September visit to the US. Ahead of visiting India, Kerry, in a major speech, stressed that the US and India have the potential to become indispensable partners for the 21st century and said Washington wants to support the Modi government’s vision of “sabka saath, sabka vikas (together with all, development for all)”. Kerry in his address at the Center for American Progress (CAP), a major US think-tank, said Monday evening that he would be “emphasizing the opportunities” in which the US and India can become indispensable partners when he touches base with the new Indian government. Kerry will co-chair the fifth annual India-US Strategic Dialogue July 31 along with External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj. Kerry, who mentioned Modi’s name 11 times in his address, said: “The new Indian government’s plan, ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas’, together with all, development for all – that’s a concept, a vision that we want to support. “We believe it’s a great vision, and our private sector is eager to be a catalyst in India’s economic revitalisation.”

Kerry will be accompanied by Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker on the visit. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel is to visit next month as part of preparations for the meeting between Modi and President Barack Obama in Washington.

State Department Spokesperson Jennifer Psaki said in a statement that in addition to holding the Strategic Dialogue, Kerry will meet Prime Minister Modi, “the first cabinet-level meeting with a US official since the inauguration of the new Indian government”.